walhonding300 31 Posted August 31 I have only posted a few times with a few questions,. but received great responses and help. Thank you I guess I will start a thread to update on the progress I am making with my 1998 300FW. I am calling it a daily driver because I want to "restore it" to a point that it runs great and looks OK. Not a show piece by any means. I have owned multiple ATVs, including 2 Hondas ('03 400ex and just recently an '88 trx125). I wanted a machine that met my criteria (reliable, easy to fix, inexpensive, and small enough that I feel comfortable with my 10 year old driving it). Need FWD and the ability to use it for firewood and still have some fun with it. I found it on marketplace. It was owned by an old farmer that passed. His family was selling it. They said it had not run until the grandson did a little work on it. It didn't run great, but it ran and the price was right. It looks like it was used on a farm. The frame and racks have surface rust from it just not getting cleaned and dirt/mud sitting on it. but nothing beyond that. Has not ever been mudded. Gas tank has very few scratches and other than 1 black fender flair, the plastic has no cracks. Now when I say the grandson had just worked on it to get it running, I mean he bought a Chinese refresh kit off amazon. Spark plug cable, solenoid, key and ignition, handlebar switch module and carb. It ran, but it ran like the choke was stuck on and the valves were off. I have a very, very good mechanic that works on older atvs in his spare time. He asked me to buy a used oem carb and a shindy rebuild kit along with a clutch cable. He rebuilt that carb, did a leak down test and adjusted the valves. Someone had tried adjusting the valves. They were way off, but open to far, which he said was a sign someone had tried to do it previously. After his work, it literally runs like it is brand new. I could not be happier. I will post more picks and progress as I make it. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeepwm69 7,232 Posted August 31 Looks nice. You have the front rack and bumper? I had @shadetree rebuild the engine in my daughter's 97 TRX300. Swapped in a 350 Foreman rear end, added 420 Rancher shocks up front for a small lift, did 07-13 420 disc brakes up front, added a 424 front driveshaft disconnect so she can put in 2wd on dry ground, and modded it to start in gear with the right brake lever pulled. It's a neat little rig to ride. I need to get it out and ride it, as she's off at school so it's just been sitting for a few months. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fishfiles 19,750 Posted August 31 1 hour ago, walhonding300 said: He asked me to buy a clutch cable. Looking good , great find !!!! Not a clutch cable , it has an automatic clutch .... Do you mean throttle cable , brake cable , fuel enrichment cable or maybe a reverse lock out cable 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeepwm69 7,232 Posted August 31 27 minutes ago, Fishfiles said: Looking good , great find !!!! Not a clutch cable , it has an automatic clutch .... Do you mean throttle cable , brake cable , fuel enrichment cable or maybe a reverse lock out cable Given that he was working on the carb, my guess would be a choke cable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_Wilson_™ 6,435 Posted September 1 Nice Score! Looks good.... Tuned in for the rest.. Keep those pics coming 👍👌 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
walhonding300 31 Posted September 1 Yes clutch cable. I was out of it when I typed that I guess. I do have the front rack and bumper. I took them off to wire wheel and paint them. I am using black tractor enamel on the racks and Rustoleum truck bed liner on the bumper. I plan on using the bed liner on the frame and pegs. I do not plan on ripping the entire thing apart to paint the frame. Just as I work on other things, like replacing the front drive shafts, I will tape off anything I need to. Then just spray it as needed. I like the bed liner because it durable, self levels, fills voids and sticks really well with just a little rough up. The rustoleum stuff also is not overly thick and gritty. I also plan on cleaning the rims up and painting, but not sure what color I want them or what paint I want to use yet. The rest of the list... - Change all fluids again. I have done it once but wanted to run it a bit to flush them out. - 2500 or 3500# Winch - Uni Filter - Replace front axles. Both have torn boots - Replace brake pads. Although, I am interested in the disc conversion. If I am understanding correctly, I can put a ranchers disc brakes on it? - Fabricate a full rear swing arm skid plate. Both of the originals are pretty rough. I have the steel and the ability, so I think I will just make one full plate to replace both. - Fabricate a set of nerf bars. I see pictures of 300s with the full metal nerf bars around the foot pegs and I like them. Again, I have the metal and the ability so why not. - Fabricate hand guards. - Replace head lights with LEDs. I am sure I will come up with more, but for now, it's runs very well. It's going to get used and if I just tear into doing a bunch of different projects on it, we wouldn't be able to ride it. I am also 100% open to input and advice. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeepwm69 7,232 Posted September 1 3 hours ago, walhonding300 said: Yes clutch cable. I was out of it when I typed that I guess. I do have the front rack and bumper. I took them off to wire wheel and paint them. I am using black tractor enamel on the racks and Rustoleum truck bed liner on the bumper. I plan on using the bed liner on the frame and pegs. I do not plan on ripping the entire thing apart to paint the frame. Just as I work on other things, like replacing the front drive shafts, I will tape off anything I need to. Then just spray it as needed. I like the bed liner because it durable, self levels, fills voids and sticks really well with just a little rough up. The rustoleum stuff also is not overly thick and gritty. I also plan on cleaning the rims up and painting, but not sure what color I want them or what paint I want to use yet. The rest of the list... - Change all fluids again. I have done it once but wanted to run it a bit to flush them out. - 2500 or 3500# Winch - Uni Filter - Replace front axles. Both have torn boots - Replace brake pads. Although, I am interested in the disc conversion. If I am understanding correctly, I can put a ranchers disc brakes on it? - Fabricate a full rear swing arm skid plate. Both of the originals are pretty rough. I have the steel and the ability, so I think I will just make one full plate to replace both. - Fabricate a set of nerf bars. I see pictures of 300s with the full metal nerf bars around the foot pegs and I like them. Again, I have the metal and the ability so why not. - Fabricate hand guards. - Replace head lights with LEDs. I am sure I will come up with more, but for now, it's runs very well. It's going to get used and if I just tear into doing a bunch of different projects on it, we wouldn't be able to ride it. I am also 100% open to input and advice. You'll spend more trying to fix your drum brakes than it will cost to do a conversion. Two ways to go about it. Buy a SuperATV @SuperATV disc brake conversion, or a Highlifter (more expensive) disc brake conversion. OR Use 2007-2013 420 Rancher knuckles, hub/rotor assembles, and calipers. This route DOES involve enlarging the upper ball joint hole in the arm to accept a bigger ball joint. Other than that it's bolt and go. Will be pricey using new OEM parts, but if you can source good used OEM parts or buy aftermarket, shouldn't be too bad, and you have the benefit of being able to buy replacement components from Honda for the foreseeable future. The 2007-2013 uses a bigger ball joint up top than the 300. The bottom ball joints are the same on both machines, so not a tremendous amount of work. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
walhonding300 31 Posted September 1 (edited) I like the conversion kit idea. Looks like it might be a little more than I want to spend on brake work right now since the brakes still work, just not as good as disc. Maybe I will plan on keeping my eyes open for the used 420 brake option and replace them as I can find them. If I find them, I will be asking on how to adapt those ball joints. Even if the rear were disc, it would be a significant improvement. I know no one is a big fan of Chinese replacement parts, me included. but... Is there any reason why I couldn't buy the cheaper 420 brake parts on ebay to upgrade my brakes to disc? I know they are not the quality of oem or super atv, but they have to still be an improvement on anything that is drum. Just spitballin' Edited September 1 by walhonding300 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fishfiles 19,750 Posted September 1 5 hours ago, walhonding300 said: Yes clutch cable. I was out of it when I typed that I guess. Sounds like a good plan something I would like !!! Couldn't live without floorboards But we got to get terminology right , 300 FWs don't have clutch cables , 300 EXs do Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
walhonding300 31 Posted September 3 On 9/1/2023 at 3:41 PM, Fishfiles said: Sounds like a good plan something I would like !!! Couldn't live without floorboards But we got to get terminology right , 300 FWs don't have clutch cables , 300 EXs do Just a slip up at the end of the day. 7 hours of dealing with teenagers can do that to you lol. If anyone has them, would someone mind taking a few up close pictures of the metal footboards? I’d like to see how they’re attached and what the clearances are like around the pedals. It would be greatly appreciated. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fishfiles 19,750 Posted September 3 2 hours ago, walhonding300 said: If anyone has them, would someone mind taking a few up close pictures of the metal footboards? I’d like to see how they’re attached and what the clearances are like around the pedals. It would be greatly appreciated. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_Wilson_™ 6,435 Posted September 3 You beat me by a long time..... Nets running slow today Rare hard to finds parts and accessories Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
walhonding300 31 Posted September 3 7 hours ago, Fishfiles said: Thank you very much. It's greatly appreciated. It looks like that's something I can handle making. Going to incorporate the existing pegs. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fishfiles 19,750 Posted September 4 14 hours ago, walhonding300 said: Thank you very much. It's greatly appreciated. It looks like that's something I can handle making. Going to incorporate the existing pegs. I made these floorboards from scratch for my 450 , mounted with two bolts thru the foot peg and a u-bolt around the bottom frame tube Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
walhonding300 31 Posted September 4 100% what I am looking for guys. Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SuperATV 19 Posted September 6 On 9/1/2023 at 2:08 PM, walhonding300 said: I like the conversion kit idea. Looks like it might be a little more than I want to spend on brake work right now since the brakes still work, just not as good as disc. Maybe I will plan on keeping my eyes open for the used 420 brake option and replace them as I can find them. If I find them, I will be asking on how to adapt those ball joints. Even if the rear were disc, it would be a significant improvement. I know no one is a big fan of Chinese replacement parts, me included. but... Is there any reason why I couldn't buy the cheaper 420 brake parts on ebay to upgrade my brakes to disc? I know they are not the quality of oem or super atv, but they have to still be an improvement on anything that is drum. Just spitballin' I can get you a little discount if you decide to go with our conversion kit. I don't check in here every day, but if you shoot me a PM I'll catch it soon and shoot you the forum member discount code. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
